Metering mechanism



Jan. 21, 1941. R, PUDELKO I 2,229,126

METERING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 16, 1955 J9 g I /3 l5 A- INVENTOR.

BY i a" MUM? ATTORNE s.

Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES METERING MECHANISM Riccard Pudelko, Zug,

Switzerland, assignor to Landis & Gyr, A.-G., a corporation of Switzerland Application October 18, 1935, Serial No. 45,203 In Switzerland October 17, 1934 4 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in coin controlled mechanisms, and more especially to such improvements in coin controlled electricity meters.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a mechanism embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a different form of mechanism embodying the invention.

Object-s of the'invention are, in part, to provide an improved and simplified coin controlled mechanism, and in certain of its important features such a mechanism especially capacitated for controlling metered electric currents; to pro- 30 vide an inclosed or incased and self-contained mechanism of the kind described, which does not require manual or other operation to release the mechanism or to set it going after the deposit of a coin; to obviate and dispense with oper- 35 ating handles or equivalent mechanisms and also to avoid the necessity for providing the safeguarding mechanisms usually required to prevent improper actuation of handles and like parts; to provide within the self-contained mech- 40 anism actuating or impelling means which function in place of the customary external handle, such actuating and impelling means as at present embodied comprising a motor and a friction clutch.

Other objects and advantages and the means of effecting same will be pointed out in connection with the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment; the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well being illustrative and exemplary of the invention but not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, the entire ,mechanism is enclosed within a casing C, and referring for the present especially to Fig. 1, the controlled circuit is shown by wires I and 2 having spring contact terminals 3 and 4. Wires I and 2 which are part of the power line are connected in series with the meter 6| shown diagrammatically in Figure 1, to which meter are also connected in series the consumer line 6 la. The circuit is made and broken at these contacts by amovable circuit closing and opening contact bridge 5, the

bridge being moved to circuit closing position by f the deposit of a coin and to open circuit position by the meter registering the prepaid quantity of current consumed, with or without addition of basic charges such as time charges, or additional factors. As embodied, bridge 5 is mounted on an arm II fixed on a shaft I2, journaled in the frame, and fixed near the other end of the shaft [2 is a bent stop arm I3. This stop arm cooperates with a shaft l4, journaled in the frame, this shaft being provided with detent recesses I5 and I6, one of which holds the bridge piece 5 at and releases it from the circuit closing position, and the other of which holds the bridge piece in open circuit position and releases it therefrom at the proper time so that it may move to circuit-closing "position. The shaft I4 is normally held in position to obstruct and stop the bent stop arm I3 with the switch either open or closed, and is yieldingly movable into releasing position, the means for effecting this comprising a pin I'I projecting from the shaft I4, which pin is'yieldingly held in position against a detent I8 by spring I9, that is, in the position to hold bent arm I3.

Means are provided for placing impulsion on the above described mechanism so that it will move successively from circuit closing to circuit opening and to circuit closing position on successive releases thereof by the shaft I4, which mechanism is also contained within the closed casing. Suitable power supplying and friction slip clutch devices are provided within the casing, and as embodied, the power device comprises a motor 21, having a pinion 28 on its shaft, meshing with a gear 29 fixed on a shaft 30, which shaft is journaled in the machine frame. Fixed also on shaft 30 is a pinion 3|, meshing with a gear 32 loose on shaft I2, and a coil spring 33 is in compression between gear 32 and bent arm I3, imposing a friction slip drive on arm I3.

The embodied form of coin actuated circuit closing means cooperates with the mechanism just described, and includes a coin inserting slot 39. In line with the slot and within the casing is a coin drum fixed on motor driven shaft 39. The drum 40 has a central portion 4| of lesser diameter, and a coin receiving slot 43, the slot being internally narrowed so that a dropped coin c will be received into the drum slot and held with its edge portion extending from and across the central reduced portion 4] of the drum, the

coin in this position serving as an actuating device for a portion of the mechanism to be later described. Referring now to this coin actuated mechanism, a ratchet wheel 45 is fixed on a sleeve 46, which sleeve is loosely mounted on a shaft 41. journaled in the frame. The ratchet wheel 45 projects within the reduced portion 4! of the coin drum so that the ratchet wheel may be moved the distance of one tooth by a coin held in the rotating drum 46. In the actual machine the ratchet wheel 45 will be practically on the same level as the shaft 30, and the coin will drop out of the drum wheel slot by gravity after a half revolution of the drum and after having moved the ratchet wheel 45 the distance of one tooth. A detent 48 coacts with the ratchet Wheel 45 to hold it except when moved by the coin. Fixed also on sleeve 46 is a sun wheel 49 of a planetary gear. A cooperating sun wheel 50 is fixed on a sleeve 5|, which is loosely journaled on the shaft 41, a gear 52 being likewise fixed on sleeve 51. The planet wheel 53 is loosely mounted on an arm 54 fixed on 'a shaft 41. Fixed also on shaft 41 is an arm 55, which coacts with an arm 56 fixed on the shaft l4 to effect the operation of the switch actuating mechanism.

The current metering means as embodied likewise operates on the planetary gear and the arms 55 and 56 to open the circuit after a given current consumption and as embodied, a shaft 6| is driven by the meter and drives on to a gear 62, fixed on a shaft 63 journaled in the frame. Fixed also on shaft 63 is a pinion 64, which meshes with a gear 65, fixed on a shaft 66, a pinion 61 being also fixed on shaft 66 and meshing with the gear 52. The coin operated mechanism acts on arm 55 and through it on bent arm l3 to move bridge 5 to close the circuit at contacts 3 and 4, and the meter driven gearing acts on arm 55 and through it on bent arm l3 to permit movement of bridge 5 to open the circuit at the contacts 3 and 4.

The operation of the foregoing mechanism is as follows:

Let it be assumed, for example, that the supply of electricity or other commodity corresponding to the coin last deposited (which has previously fallen out of the coin slot 43 into the coin receptacle) is not yet consumed. At this time bridge piece 5 closes the circuit, and detent notch [5 holds bent arm 13 against the impulsion of the friction slip drive exerted from motor 21. Arm 55 is also spaced away from arm 56. The meter driven shaft 6! is driving gears 52 and 56 so that planet wheel 53 is rolling on sun wheel 49, and arm 55 is consequently approaching arm 56. When the coin value in electricity or other commodity is consumed, arm 55 engages arm 56 and rocks shaft l4 against the pressure of spring I9 until detent notch l5 releases the bent arm l3, and shaft l2 makes a half revolution under the impulsion of the friction slip drive, and is then stopped by arm [3 engaging detent notch IS on shaft I 4, and the mechanism is at rest in the open circuit position, and shaft 6| is likewise at rest. Shaft 36 continues to rotate under the drive of motor 21.

When a coin is dropped in slot 39, it passes into drum 40, and on the first half revolution of the drum moves ratchet wheel 45 the distance of one tooth, sun wheel 49 rotating therewith and rolling planet wheel 53 on sun wheel 50 in the opposite direction from that in which it was moved by shaft 5|. Arm 55 is thereby moved in the opposite direction, and arm 56 and shaft M are restored by spring l9 to their original position, shown in Fig. l, and arm 13 is released for a half revolution and bridge piece 5 again closes the circuit at the contacts 3, 4, and the circuit will remain closed until opened again by the drive from the meter in the manner already described.

An embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing wherein a part of the value of the coin inserted is credited to a basic or fixed charge, i. e., wherein current is not supplied for the full value of a coin, but in an amount less by a predetermined percentage or proportion depending upon the basic or fixed charge. In said embodiment the coin drum is actually two concentric side by side drums 40 and 46 one-half of the coin slot being formed in the inner ends of the two drums, and when a coin is introduced through slot 39 it forms a driving connection between driving drum 46*, which is driven from motor 21, and driven drum 46 for a half revolution, until the coin drops out by gravity. A disc 1| having two flat sides is fixed on the outer end of drum 40 and a flat spring 12 acts to stop drum 46* after the half revolution just described. Drum 40 is fixed on a shaft 13 to which is fixed a pinion 14, which meshes with gear 45*. Reference numerals 45 to 6| in Fig. 2 are applied to substantially the same or similar parts as are the plain numerals in Fig. 1, and these parts need not be again described.

Referring now to the connections from the foregoing mechanism for operating and governing the switch controlling mechanism, a gear 8| is fixed on shaft 41, and meshes with a gear 82 fixed on a shaft 83. Fixed to the hub of gear 82 is a radially extending and angled arm 84, having fixed thereto a detent tooth 85. Loosely sleeved on shaft 83 are a pair of escapement gears 81 and 88, which are fixed together and are offset angularly half the pitch of their teeth to effect, when moved along their shaft, an escapement action with the detent 85. Fixed to the gears 81 and 88 to rotate therewith are two broad faced pinions 93 and 94, and fixed to these is a grooved and flanged wheel 95; the escapement wheels, the broad faced pinions and the grooved wheel being integral and rotating freely together on shaft 83, and being also movable along the shaft. The connections from the aforesaid mechanism to the switch controlling mehcanism comprises a shaft 99, journaled in the frame, and fixed on a shaft 99 is a gear I00, which meshes with broad faced pinion 93, and fixed on the other end of shaft 99 is an arm llll. Arm IUI coacts with bent arm I62 on shaft I03 of the switch controlling mechanism (not shown) which may be of the form shown in the prior patent to Beusch and Pudelko, No. 1,799,276. The switch and switch operating means controlled by arms l6! and I02 may be of suitable or desired form, and may be the same or similar to those shown in Fig. 1 and previously described.

' In the embodied form of mechanism for imposing the basic or other additional charge, a time controlled drive for the escapement mechanism just described is provided, wherein an escapement operating shaft I08 is driven from a suitable source, which maybe the motor'21' espe cially if it'be a synchronous motor. As shown,

I the sum of these two drives.

a bevel gear I89 on shaft I88 is driven from a bevel gear II8, fixed on a shaft III, which is driven from motor shaft pinion 28 through gear train H2. The motor 21 may be a synchronous motor to provide a time measurement or for any other purpose. The upper end of shaft I88 projects into the groove in the wheel 95 and is offset to give a crank motion, so that as the shaft I88 is rotated by the time mechanism, the grooved wheel 95, the broad faced pinions and the escapement wheels are reciprocated on their shaft, and by reason of the offset of the wheels by one-half of the tooth pitch, an escapement action is effected in conjunction with detent 85. Shaft 83 is driven from the meter, and arm 84 and detent 85rotate about shaft 83, advancing the wheels correspondingly to the power consumed, and the rotation of shaft I88 operates the escapement, the total advance of the wheels 81, 88 and pinions 93, 94 being the sum of both these drives, or the sum of the current consumption plus the additional charge.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, driving means are provided for imposing a resilient or yielding forward drive on the wheels 81, 88 and pinions 93, 94 whereby they move forwardly under the concurrent drive of the meter disc and under the control of the time mechanism, said driving means being independent of the time mechanism. As embodied, the driving means comprises a helical spring II6 which is connected to a toothed sector II1. Sector II! meshes with a pinion H8 fixed on a shaft H9, and a gear wheel I28 is fixed on the shaft I I 9 and meshes with the broad pinion 94 to communicate the drive from spring II6 to the escapement mechanism, the group of mechanism which includes arm 84, gears 81, 88 and pinions 93, 94 acting to control the spring drive in accordance with the movement of the meter and the time mechanism or drive from motor 21.

Referring now to the manner of operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the fundamental features of operation are the same as previously described with the addition that the mechanism for imposing the additional charge as, for instance, a time mechanism cooperates with the meter drive to advance the mechanism to open circuit position, the coin itself, as before, being employed to release the mechanism again for circuit closing position. Assuming that the supply of electricity corresponding to the coin last introduced has not been exhausted, and that the deposited coin has previously dropped out of the coin slot after a half revolution, and thereby has mechanically disconnected the two drums 48 and 49, so that 48 is brought to rest by the action of the spring I2 while I8 continues to rotate with the motor. The meter driven shaft ,Bl drives through the escapement mechanism and shaft 99 to slowly advance arm IN to the position where it will move lever arm I82 to open the switch through the switch controlling mechanism, which if desired may be generally similar or the same as that of Fig. 1 being connected to the shaft I83. Concurrently the motor 21 is rotating crankshaft I88 to additionally advance the time escapement, the advancement of the arm I82 towards switch opening position being If the time charge or other basic charge is supplied only during current consumption, a control switch on the motor 21 may be provided, and such a switch may be supplied for the motor 21 to meet any other operating condition as found convenient or desirable.

If desired, a time control may be provided for the motor 21 to govern its operation in any way desired. When a new coin is inserted, it drops into the'slots in the drums 48 and 48 thereby mechanically connecting them and they rotate together for a half revolution when the coin drops out, and drum 48 comes to rest. During that half revolution, pinion I4 rotates sun wheel 49*, causing planet wheel 53 to roll on sun wheel 58 in the opposite direction from its movement during the current flow, thereby rotating the entire escapement mechanism backwardly, winding spring I I6 and moving arm I M backwardly from arm I82 so that spring I9, or equivalent device, will close the supply switch and start the current flowing. The operation of the mechanism due to the supply of a coin being the same as that previously described in connection with the mechanism of Fig. 1.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

' What I claim is:

1. A coin controlled electricity measuring mechanism enclosed within a casing and including in combination a switch, a meter-operated shaft, means including a slip drive impelling the switch to continuous movement to successive open circuit and closed circuit positions, means restraining the operation of said impelling means, means operated by the meter operated shaft after a predetermined current consumption for releasing said restraining means to cause the switch to open, and a power device located within the casing and called into operation by an inserted coin for releasing said restraining means to cause the switch to close.

2. A coin controlled electricity measuring mechanism enclosed within a casing and including in combination a switch, a meter-operated shaft, means including a slip drive impelling the switch to continuous movement to successive open circuit and closed circuit positions, means restraining the operation of said impelling means,-

means operated by the meter operated shaft after a predetermined current consumption for releasing said restraining means to cause the switch to open, and a power device located within the casing and called into operation by an inserted coin for releasing said restraining means to cause the switch to close, said slip drive comprising driven and driving members, the driven member being connected to said impelling means, and said power device being connected to said driving member.

3. A coin controlled electricity measuring mechanism enclosed within a casing and including in combination a movable switch operating member, a switch adapted to be successively closed and opened by said switch operating member, means including a continuously moving power device and a slip clutch adapted to impel the switch operating member to continuous movement in a single direction to successively close and open said switch, movable means associated with said impelling means normally restraining the operation thereof, means holding said movable means in restraining position, said impelling means including a coin receptacle and means to discharge said coin, means associated with said holding means and adapted to be actuated by a coin in said receptacle for operating said holding means to release the releasing means and permit the impelling means to move said movable switch operating member to close the switch, said coin receptacle being constructed to permit ejection of said coin following this operation, a consumer circuit and a meter in series therewith, a shaft operated by said meter, and means operated by said shaft and associated with said holding means to restore the same to holding position after a predetermined current consumption measured by the duration of operation of the meter shaft.

4. A coin controlled electricity measuring mechanism enclosed within a casing and including in combination a movable switch operating member, a switch adapted to be successively closed and opened by said switch operating member, means including a continuously moving power device and a slip clutch adapted to impel the switch operating member to continuous movement in a single direction to successively close and open said switch, movable means associated with said impelling means normally restraining the operation thereof, means holding said movable means in restraining position, said impelling means including a coin receptacle which, when in upright position, is adapted to receive a coin and when in inverted position to discharge the coin, means associated with said holding means and adapted to be actuated by a coin in said receptacle prior to being discharged therefrom for operating said holding means to release the releasing means and permit the impelling means to move said movable switch operating member to close the switch, a consumer circuit and a meter in series therewith, a shaft operated by said meter and means operated by said shaft and associated with said holding means to restore the same to holding position after a predetermined current consumption measured by the duration of operation of said meter shaft.

' RICCARD PUDELKO. 

